Vestavia Hills BOE Approves Gresham Purchase Contract

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — The Vestavia Hills Board of Education voted to approve a contract to purchase Gresham Elementary school during a meeting Monday morning. Once Jefferson County approves the contract for the $6.75 million purchase, Vestavia is one step closer to officially obtaining the property, which will be used to fix some of Vestavia's schools' overcrowding problems.

The contract will become legally binding upon Jefferson County's agreement, and the purchase will undergo an inspection period before its approval from a federal judge, similar to the process from the Berry purchase. Federal approval can take up to a year, but the board's attorney Patrick Boone told Vestavia Voice that he doesn't anticipate approval will take that long.

The Vestavia board will have 90 days from the time of Jefferson County's signing to inspect the property, during which time the board can rescind its offer if necessary. The property itself will require annexation into the city, and once annexed, it can be used and improved by the city so long as it doesn't interrupt the school's regular activity.

The contract will go before the Jefferson County board in the next few weeks. Interim Superintendent Charles Mason will make his recommendation for the property's use and school restructuring on Dec. 6.